Algarve Travel Information

Currency
The Euro is now the official currency of the European Union member states (including Portugal). The first Euro coins and notes were introduced in January 2002.
The Euro notes are: 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 €.
The Euro coins are: 1 and 2 €, and 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents.

Currency Exchange
Check with banks for details and current rates. ATM's and Electronic Exchange Machines are abundantly available and tend to be more efficient to exchange currency.

Credit & Debit Cards
MasterCard, American Express and Visa are widely accepted, as well as Eurocheque cards.

Travellers Cheques
Traveler’s cheques are accepted mainly for exchange in banks and exchange booths. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travelers schedules in Euros, Pounds Sterling or US Dollars.

Banking Hours
Generally, Mon-Fri 8:30 am to 3 pm (certain banks in shopping centres or are open until as late as 11 pm).

Language
Portuguese is the mother language in Portugal. Most of the Portuguese people especially at tourist areas like the Algarve speak one or more foreign languages. English and French are the two most widely spoken foreign languages.

Time
Continental Portugal and Madeira Island are on the Greenwich time. The Azores Islands are 1 hour behind the Portuguese mainland. Daylight savings time begins the last Sunday in March (clocks are turned one hour ahead)
and ends the last Sunday in October (clocks go back one hour).

Electricity
The electrical current in Portugal is 220 volts, 50 cycle AC, and outlets are two round prongs. It is advisable to pack a converter and an adapter.

Equivalent Weights and Measures
1 cm = 0.39 inches
1 meter = 3.28 feet / 1.09 yards
1 km = 0.62 miles
1 liter = 0.22 gallons
1 inch = 2.54 cm
1 foot = 0.30 meters
1 yard = 0.91 meters
1 mile = 1.60 km
1 gallon = 4.55 liters

Driving in Portugal
Traffic drives on the right hand side of the road. If you are not familiar with driving on the right side of the road, take your time to familiarize yourself with the car, adjust the mirrors, locate all the controls, etc.
Get used to the position of the gear lever and handbrake to your right, the pedals are, however, in exactly the same order which makes life easier. Ideally drive slowly at first in a quiet area to adjust to the car and controls.

Drivers’ Documents
Legal ID, valid national or international driving license, car registration documents or equivalent, proof of ownership of the vehicle or equivalent, insurance certificate (third party is compulsory) and a green card must be obtained. In the case of a hire car, the driver should also bear the hire contract. Violations are punished with an on-the-spot fine payable in cash.

Seatbelts
The use of seatbelts is compulsory for both the front and rear seats, except for vehicles not originally fitted with rear seat belts. Any infringement is punishable with a heavy fine payable in cash on-the-spot.
Children should not travel in the front seat.

Alcohol Levels
It is against the law to drive under the influence of alcohol - under the Portuguese Law a blood alcohol level of 0.5 grams/liter or more. All those violating this regulation are punishable with a heavy fine, confiscation or suspension of their driving license and/or prison, according to the degree of blood alcohol shown.

Breaking the Highway Code
In cases of breaking the Highway Code and if the person responsible is not resident in Portugal, an on-the-spot fine in cash and in euros must be paid, or an amount equal to the maximum fine for the violation must be deposited.

Speed Limits
In addition to any speed limits indicated by the signs, drivers of cars and motorcycles are subject to the following speed limits:
Towns & Villages - 50 km/hour (31 mph)
Main Roads - 90 km/hour (55 mph)
Motorways - 120 km/hour (75 mph)

Petrol stations
Are generally open between 7 am to 8 pm although most are open till mid night or even for 24 hours if they are motorway service stations. A small tax may be added to petrol bought with a credit card.

Motorways
Travel by motorway is general subject to a toll according to distance covered and type of vehicle. However, the A22 - the motorway that covers the Algarve from V. Real de Sto. António to Lagos - is toll free.

Taxi
Charges are according to distance and taxis are all metered. Taxis are usually painted beige (although some taxis painted in the old colours of green and black still exist).
In the city they charge a standard meter fare; outside the city limits they charge per kilometre and are entitled to
charge for the return fare. There is a surcharge for carrying luggage.

Car Hire
Available from main towns and airports, with or without driver. The minimum age for driving a rental car is 21. We can provide you with competitive car hire rates with your holiday package.

General Driving Regulations
Warning triangles are compulsory. It is forbidden to carry cans of petrol in vehicles.

Drive carefully
Portugal has one of the highest road accident rates in Europe. The standard of road building and driving in Portugal is lower than in Northern European countries therefore, you need to be constantly alert and cautious.

ZERO TOLERANCE!
Some main roads and motorways such as the EN 125, the A2 (the Lisbon-Algarve motorway) have been classified by local traffic authorities as ‘Zero Tolerance’ roads. High-profile police patrols are becoming ever more vigilant and ever less tolerant of bad driving, speeding and drink driving.

Passports
Passport is required for all visitors except for EU nationals and nationals of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Malta, Norway and Switzerland holding valid national ID cards. For nationals of UK, the passport must be valid for the duration of the stay in Portugal.

Chemists
Open 9 am to 1 pm and from 3 pm to 7 pm. One or more chemists stays open (depending on the urban area it covers) after hours on a rotating basis. The address of the the open chemist is listed on all other chemists’ doors.
Chemists (farmácias) will advise on minor matters and will supply you any medication that does not require prescription. For prescription medication you must consult a doctor at any local hospital, clinic or private doctors.

Emergency
Ambulance, Police, Fire, European standard number - multi-lingual - Tel: 112

Insects
Mosquitoes are very common, you should therefore protect yourself with insect repellent which can be bought locally from any chemist. Ants are out and about all over the Algarve during the warm months and will home in on any scraps of food left lying around. They are easily deterred by insecticide powders which can be bought from supermarkets.

Shopping
Traditional commerce is open from 9 am to 1 pm and from 3 to 7 pm Mondays to Fridays and from 9 am to 1 pm on Saturdays. However, most shopping centres and hipermarkets may be open from 9 am to 12 pm, 7 days a week.

Markets
Most towns have a traditional market held weekly or once every month. The busy markets are very colourful and present a good opportunity to shop for traditional handicrafts.

Dress Code
Casual wear is widely acceptable, although beachwear should not be worn in towns.

Smoking
Smoking is prohibited in public offices, any health related facility, cinemas, theatres and on buses. In restaurants it is usual to smoke only at the end of the meal. Some restaurants and cafés have restricted non-smoker areas.

Tipping
Generally 10-15 per cent.

National Bank Holidays
January 1st New Year’s Day
April 25th Revolution Day
May 1st Labour Day
June 10th Camões and Portugal Day
August 15th Ascension Day
October 5th Republic Day
November 1st All Saints Day
December 1st Independence Day
December 8th The Immaculate Conception of our Lady
December 25th Christmas Day
Other Public Holidays which fall on different dates are: Good Friday, Carnival and Corpus Christi.

Post Office
Most post offices are open Monday to Friday 9 am to 6 pm.

Telephones
Telephone calls can be made at post offices and public phone booths which accept coins, standard credit cards or ‘credifone’ cards. ‘Credifone’ cards may be purchased from post offices, Portugal Telecom shops, most newsagents
and supermarkets.
For calls abroad dial 00, followed by the country code, the area code (omitting the 0) then the telephone number.
Country codes can be found in the first pages of the local telephone book, the post office, or by contacting the International operator on 099 (inside Europe), 098 (outside Europe).

Safety Precautions
You should be as security conscious with your car, at the villas and apartments as you would be at home. When you go out, be sure to lock all windows and doors. When driving you must carry your licence and car documents, but don’t leave them in the car when parked.

Lost Property
To report or inquire about air travel baggage gone astray in transit, phone Faro airport lost property office 289 818302. Property lost in Portugal should be reported to the nearest GNR or Police stations.

Cats and Dogs
Stray cats and dogs are unfortunately common in the Algarve. Many Portuguese keep dogs, which live outdoors and may sometimes be heard barking, please be patient and try not to let this disturb your holiday.